POPLAR BLUFF MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ABUSE IN CONNECTION TO INCIDENT AT AREA BUSINESS

A man has been taken into custody on a sexual abuse charge following an alleged incident at an area business.

Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley tells KWOC News that an officer was dispatched to the business on Sunday in connection to a report of an adult male customer inappropriately touching a female employee, who was a juvenile.

A manager at the business pointed out the suspect, identified as 31 year old Donald Raymer, of Poplar Bluff, who was immediately apprehended.

HEAT INDEX READINGS REACH OVER 110 DEGREES IN PARTS OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ON SUNDAY

A hot weekend saw heat index reading reach around 110 degrees in parts of Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, while many areas had the heat index get into the triple digits during the afternoon on Sunday, the heat index reading in Kennett was recorded at 113 degrees at 2 pm.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Authorities in Poplar Bluff have arrested an area man on child pornography charges.

According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, 40 year old Joshua Thomas was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon following an investigation by the SEMO Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Officials say that a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the execution of a search warrant last week at an address on Thomas Street.

MISSOURI VACCINE INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO GIVE CHANCE OF $10,000 TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE VACCINATED

Missouri is offering people a chance to win $10,000 to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The state will award $10,000 to 900 lottery winners through the program. Teenagers will get $10,000 scholarships. All vaccinated adults and teenagers are eligible. For more information, go to MOStopsCovid.com/win.

CITY OF POPLAR BLUFF RECOGNIZED FOR SAFE DIGGING PRACTICES

The city of Poplar Bluff recently received an award for safe digging.

The City, along with Street Superintendent Jerry Lawson, were presented with the annual Silver Shovel award during the city council meeting on Monday.

The award is for safe digging practices over the past year. Officials say that Poplar Bluff is one of only three cities in the state to receive the award in two consecutive years.

TWO PEOPLE RESCUED FROM FLASH FLOODING IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Flood waters resulted in dangerous conditions last week in Southeast Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, water patrol troopers were involved in the rescue of two individuals from flash flooding on the St. Francis River in Southern Madison County.

Madison County Emergency Management Director Dean Stevens also assisted in the rescue.

POPLAR BLUFF REGIONAL BUSINESS AIRPORT RESUMES NORMAL OPERATIONS

Things are getting back to normal at the Poplar Bluff Airport.

The Poplar Bluff Regional Business Airport has announced that it resumed normal operations late Thursday night.

Pilots are being instructed to refer to the Notices to Airmen for specific limitations at the airport.

AREA RESIDENT TO RETIRE AFTER 55 YEAR CAREER IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

A familiar face for anyone who uses John Deere products in Southeast Missouri is calling it a career.

Sherman Thomas is retiring after 55 years of John Deere Product Support in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas.

A celebration of Thomas will be held this Friday from 10 am to 1 pm at Greenway Equipment on Route B outside of Poplar Bluff. Anyone can stop by the store and wish Thomas well in his retirement.

This is over double the reported 43 new cases from last week.

DEXTER HOSPITAL OFFICIALS PROVIDE UPDATE ON REPAIRS FROM TORNADO DAMAGE

Officials with Southeast Health Center of Stoddard County are working to get the hospital back up and running following Saturday’s EF-2 Tornado that hit Dexter.

According to the Southeast Health website, structural engineers have evaluated the building and gave a good report overall. Major progress has been made to repair the leaks on the roof so a complete clean-up can convene in the inpatient/outpatient units.

CHAINSAW CREWS TO BE IN DEXTER TO ASSIST WITH TORNADO CLEAN UP

Clean up operations are ongoing in Dexter following this past weekend’s tornado which caused damage to over 150 homes and multiple businesses.

City officials in Dexter say that there will be three chainsaw crews in the city who will be contacting homeowners to assist them with tree cutting and moving the trees to the edge of the road or alley.

EF-2 TORNADO HITS DEXTER OVER THE WEEKEND

There were no injuries or deaths reported after a tornado struck Stoddard County over the weekend.

According to a preliminary report from the National Weather Service, an EF-2 tornado occurred from 8:18 pm to 8:29 pm, Saturday night. The tornado had estimated peak winds of 120 miles per hour with a max width of 175 yards.

The tornado’s path took it from around Stoddard County Road AD to County Road 731, crossing over the north side of Dexter.

RIVER RADIO BLOOD DRIVE SET FOR TODAY IN POPLAR BLUFF

The next River Radio Blood Drive will be this afternoon in Poplar Bluff.

The Blood Drive has been scheduled for noon to 6 pm today at the Greater Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce.

Call 1-800-Red-Cross or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter the code RiverRadio to schedule an appointment

ONE REPORTED CASE OF COVID 19 DELTA VARIANT IN BUTLER COUNTY

A corona virus variant has made its way to Butler County.

Health officials announced Wednesday that there was a positive case of the Covid-19 Delta Variant in the county, among a total of 43 new cases of COVID-19.

The increase in new cases is partly due to an outbreak at an area facility.

WAPPAPELLO MAN DIES FOLLOWING INCIDENT ON WAPPAPELLO LAKE

A Wappapello man has died following an incident over the weekend on Wappapello Lake.

Officials with the Missouri State Highway Patrol tell KWOC News that 43 year old Bo Spencer Boswell suffered a medical incident Saturday afternoon while swimming at Wappapello Lake and went under the water.

ONE DEAD, ANOTHER INJURED IN STODDARD COUNTY WRECK

One person has died and another was injured in a motorcycle wreck in Stoddard County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred shortly after 9 am Thursday when a motorcycle, driven by 33 year old Jerrod Plaskie, of Sikeston, crossed the center of Highway N and struck a vehicle.

MULTIPLE EVENTS PLANNED TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY IN POPLAR BLUFF

There are multiple events planned for this weekend in Poplar Bluff to celebrate Independence Day.

Holiday Inn will be the host for the Little Miss and Mister Firecracker 4th of July Pageant. The event will begin at 6:30 pm on Friday.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN TO APPEAR IN COURT THIS WEEK ON ARSON CHARGE

A Poplar Bluff man is scheduled to appear in court this week on an arson charge.

According to Missouri Case Net, Nathan Dewayne Montgomery was served a warrant Monday on a charge of 1st degree arson.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN SENTENCED ON MURDER AND BURGLARY CHARGES

A Poplar Bluff man has been sentenced to over 70 years in prison on murder and burglary charges.

Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor tells KWOC News that 35 year old Curtis Walker was sentenced Monday to a total of 75 years in prison on charges of murder in the second degree, armed criminal action, and burglary in the first degree.

In October of 2014 a local fisherman found a body at the end of a boat ramp at the Dan River Access, south of Poplar Bluff. The victim was identified as Salvador Ramirez.